Beloved Irish pub Fenian's in northeast Ottawa County up for sale

Sunday

Mar 23, 2014 at 8:00 AM

By John SinkevicsLocalSpins.com

Ireland has long shared "a little piece of heaven" with West Michigan.For more than 26 years, Fenianís Irish Pub in Conklin has done Irish to the hilt, bringing renowned Celtic folk musicians to the intimate tavern in rural northeastern Ottawa County, hosting weekly Irish music sessions and organizing the "shortest St. Patrickís Day Parade in the world."The wee pub owned by Terry and Mary Ann Reagan has earned an international reputation among Irish folk musicians, many of whom go out of their way to include Fenianís as a U.S. tour stop.But all of that may soon come to an end: The Reagans have put Fenianís up for sale and plan to retire.The last hurrah hinges on its eventual sale, but the final concert for Fenianís currently is scheduled for Aug. 19, when the acclaimed Irish quintet Beoga returns to perform at the pub on Main Street across from Dykstraís grain elevator.For longtime Fenianís devotees, that also means that last Mondayís traditional "Weariní of the Green" St. Patrickís Day parade in Conklin may have been the last."Itís time to pull the pin and move on, and rest," says Terry Reagan, 70, standing behind the vintage bar inside the tavern that the couple bought in 1987.Mary Ann Reagan, 68, the red-headed Irish sparkplug behind the authentic music at Fenianís, says selling the pub will allow her to focus on the overseas tours she organizes for Fear ní Ti & Me Irish Productions Ltd."Itís just like having a wee child. You have to take care of it all the time," she says of managing the pub, which also hosts monthly singing sessions among other events.But Mary Ann, who survived a diagnosis of cervical cancer a couple of years ago, remains forever grateful for "all the nice people Iíve met, all the people from all over whoíve come in. We have wonderful audiences and wonderful performers."For two decades, sheís called Fenianís shows as "concerts in a pub setting," putting the 110-capacity venue ahead of the curve in the current trend toward listening rooms for acoustic music.The cozy ambience has drawn dozens of acclaimed Irish acts to Fenianís, from accordionist Paddy OíBrien, the first non-local artist to play the pub, to in-demand, award-winning performers Lunasa, Beoga, Dervish, Liam Tiernan, Dublin City Ramblers, Solas and more. "All we do is Irish," Mary Ann says proudly.Lunasaís Kevin Crawford concedes Fenianís is "probably the smallest venue we typically play, but personally I get more musically from this type of space than I would in a 2,000-seat venue. It's this intimacy and up close and personal experience that makes the gig so unique. A close second to the intimacy would be the audience base and their palpable energy and sheer pleasure at hearing a band like Lķnasa at close quarters."That personal touch may be what the Reagans, of Coopersville, will miss most. Their children and grandchildren have worked at Fenianís over the years, and theyíve struck up friendships with patrons from all corners of Michigan and places as far away as Florida, New York, California and, yes, Ireland.Despite its remote location, the pub draws a devoted clientele, including bicycle riders and hikers using the Musketawa Trail that skirts Fenianís.Many of them will be on hand Monday Ė along with the Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School marching band, Fenianís marching fiddlers and more Ė when the pub hosts what could be its final "Weariní of the Green" parade. It steps off at precisely 10:55 a.m. on St. Patrickís Day at the north end of Main Street in Conklin and is followed by an all-day party at the pub with live music.The Reagans have long joked that the parade starts at one end of Main Street but never gets to the other end because thereís a pub in the middle. "Ours is just incomplete," Mary Ann quips.While the Reagans hope that whoever buys Fenianís will keep it as an Irish pub, they know there are no guarantees even if theyíve carved out a special spot for patrons with a bit of Irish in their hearts. "They all feel itís their place," says Mary Ann. "Thatís been the beauty of it."Lunasaís Crawford may have put it best in paying tribute to the Reagans as "incredible hosts" who have been "so passionate about all things to do with Irish culture.""I can safely say that they're a rare breed," he says, "and should be applauded loudly for all they do to bring internationally acclaimed artists to their little piece of heaven in the middle of nowhere."ó Find listings and news about West Michiganís music scene at John Sinkevicsí LocalSpins.com.Email: jsinkevics@gmail.com